Relations Center

According to the Arica theory, the Relation Instinct is our instinct for associating with other people as a fundamental principle of survival. It develops from the needs of the circulatory system, which includes the heart, lungs, arteries, veins, and kidneys. Its felt center is in the thoracic cavity. Ichazo points out that people are related to their environment most directly and intimately though breathing, which is one reason why this system corresponds to our relationship with the community of which we are a part.

According to Ichazo, our emotions result from our relations with other people. The instinctual innate question asked here is “Who am I with, friend or foe?” The answer will produce the primary emotions of like and dislike, and a strong focus of attention on this center develops.

An artificial Ego or “I” then develops which is concerned with how we appear to others and how others appear to us. Ichazo calls this the Image Ego because it is always adopting a “persona,” playing a social role.

The Image Ego is subdivided into three Egos: Ego-Flattery, Ego-Go, and Ego-Melancholy. These correspond to points 2, 3 and 4, respectively, on the Enneagram symbol.

The poison which naturally develops in the Relations Instinct is Hate. This can be broken down according to the three corresponding egos of the triad, giving the three root poisons of Envy (Ego-Flattery), Hate (Ego-Go), and Jealousy (Ego-Melancholy).

A sense of insecurity in the Relations Instinct during childhood leads to the formation of the three fixated “types” in this triad: Over-Independent (fixated in Ego-Flattery), Over-Efficient (fixated in Ego-Go), and Over-Reasoner (Ego-Melancholy).